Clock



June 27, 1967 SHANOK ET AL CLOCK Filed July 19, 1965 4r aen/fys United States Patent 3,327,471 CLOCK Victor Shanok and Jesse P. Shanok, both of 863 65th St.,

, 7 Brooklyn, N.Y. 11220 Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 473,081 3 Claims. (CI. 5854) The present invention relates to clocks and in particular for means for mounting and retaining a clock movement in a clock case.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly novel and simplified means for mounting a clock movement within a clock case and for releasably retaining the movement in position in the case.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a reduction in cost and time involved in mounting a clock movement in a clock case.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a generally improved means for assembling a clock movement in a clock case.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawing.

In the drawing, which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention,

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a clock movement and a clock case pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the clock movement taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the clock case taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG- URE 4 on an enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation view of a clock pursuant to the present invention with portions deleted for purposes of illustration.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a clock 10 pursuant to the present invention. As here shown, the clock 10 comprises a clock case 12, a clock movement 14 and a bell plate 16.

The clock movement 14 is essentially of convenitonal construction being provided with a clock-work mechanism generally indicated by the reference numeral 18. In conventional manner, the mechanism 18 operates a minute hand 20 and an hour hand 22 which move relative to the hour indicating plate 24. A glass cover 26 overlies the hour indicating plate 24. The glass cover 26 is mounted in conventional fashion in a rim member 28. The n'm member serves in conventional fashion to mount the glass cover 26 on the hour indicating plate 24, and back plate 24a.

The bell plate 16 is of conventional construction and is adapted to be mounted on the rear of the clock movement 14 in conventional manner. The bell plate 16 is a hollow cylindrical member which, as best shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5, overlies the rear of the clock movement 14. A shaft 30 operates in conventional manner to windup or tension the clock spring. A shaft 32 operates in conventional manner to wind or tension an alarm spring for the clock movement 18. Both of the shafts 30' and 32 extend through the bell plate 16 when the latter is assembled with the clock movement. After such assembly, a key 34 is threaded onto the projecting shaft 30 and a key 36 is threaded onto the projecting shaft 32.

The clock case 12 is of conventional construction and preferably is formed of a suitable plastic. The case 12 comprises a hollow housing 38 mounted on a base 40. The base 40 is preferably provided with a magnet 42 whereby 3,327,471 Patented June 27, 1967 the clock case 12 may be mounted upon a suitable support not illustrated.

At its inner surface, the hollow housing 38 is provided with a circular step or flange 44. As best shown in FIG- URE l, the flange 44 is narrower than the remainder of the housing 38 so as to define both a front recess or groove 46 and a rear recess or groove 43 in the housing. Pursuant to the present invention, there is provided in the circular step or flange 44 a pair of slots or recesses 50 and 52 which extend for the entire widthwise dimension of the step. Adjacent the rear recess or groove 48 each slot or channel 50 and 52 is provided with an inclined portion 54 and a recessed step 55 adjacent said inclined portion.

Pursuant to a highly novel feature of the present invention, the clock movement 14 is provided on the rear surface thereof with a bar 56 secured thereto as by the screws 58. The bar 56 terminates in a pair of oppositely disposed fingers or projections 60 and 62 respectively. In addition, pursuant to the present invention, the back plate 24a is provided on the rear surface thereof with a plurality of leaf springs 64.

Pursuant to the present invention, the bell plate 16 is first assembled to the rear of the clock movement 14 and the keys 34 and 36 are secured to the clock movement. Thereafter, the assembled clock movement is inserted into the hollow housing 38 of the clock case 12. In accomplishing this assembly, the movement 14 is positioned relative to the case 12 so that the projections 60 and 62 are aligned with the slots or channels 50 and 52 respectively at the front recess or groove 46 of the casing. Thereafter, the movement 14 is urged inwardly of the casing so that the projections 60 and 62 pass through the channels 50 and 52 defined in the flange or step 44 as best shown, for example, in FIGURE 3. Thereafter, the movement 14 is rotated in a clockwise direction, viewing FIGURE 3, as indicated by the arrows 66 and 68. This will cause each of the projections or fingers 60 and 62 to ride up the adjaoent incline 54 and snap into the recessed step 55 so as to be disposed on the rear surface of the step 44 at the groove 48 as shown in FIGURE 6. Said engagement of the fingers 60 and 62 will stress the leaf springs 64 against the front surface of the step 44 in the front groove 46 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 so as to tend to lock the fingers 60 and 62 in the recess or groove 48.

When it is desired to remove the clock movement 14 from the case 12, for example to repair or replace the movement, this may be readily accomplished by pressing the clock face inwardly against the tension of springs 64 until the projections 60 and 62 clear the recessed steps 55 thus permitting the clock movement to be rotated in a direction opposite the arrows 66 and 68. The projections 60 and 62 ride down the inclines 54 and into the associated channels 50 and 52 whereupon the clock movement may be readily removed from the front of the clock case 12.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been illustrated and described a highly novel mechanism whereby a clock movement may readily be assembled with and disassembled from a clock case. Moreover, the clock movement may be retained in position in the clock case Without the necessity for any securing means except the locking effect of the stress of leaf springs 64. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the described structure Without, however, departing from the basic inventive concept of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A clock comprising a hollow case having a bounding wall provided at its inner surface with a peripheral flange, said flange having a widthwise dimension less than said wall so as to define front and rear grooves in said case, a plurality of channels defined in said flange, and a clock movement having on its rear surface a projection associated with each channel and adapted to pass through the associated channel from the front to the rear thereof so as to engage said rear groove, said movement having spring means adapted to engage in said front groove so as to bias said projections in position in said rear groove.

2. A clock as in claim 1, and said rear groove having an inclined portion adjacent each channel whereby each projection can ride from its associated channel into said rear groove.

3. A clock'as in claim 1, and said rear groove having an inclined portion adjacent each channel whereby each projection can ride from its associated channel into said rear groove, and a recessed step adjacent each inclined portion into which each projection engages.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,073 5/1933 Putnam 58--52 v2,473,291 6/ 1949 Moss 58--52v X 2,603,942 7/1952 Cane et a1 58-88 2,794,412 6/1957 Rauth 73431 X RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

GERALD F. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOCK COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASE HAVING A BOUNDING WALL PROVIDED AT ITS INNER SURFACE WITH A PERIPHERAL FLANGE, SAID FLANGE HAVING A WIDTHWISE DIMENSION LESS THAN SAID WALL SO AS TO DEFINE FRONT AND REAR GROOVES IN SAID CASE, A PLURALITY OF CHANNELS DEFINED IN SAID FLANGE, AND A CLOCK MOVEMENT HAVING ON ITS REAR SURFACE A PROJECTION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH THE ASSOCIATED CHANNEL FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR THEREOF SO AS TO ENGAGE SAID REAR GROOVE, SAID MOVEMENT HAVING SPRING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE IN SAID FRONT GROOVE SO AS TO BIAS SAID PROJECTIONS IN POSITION IN SAID REAR GROOVE. 